By By MARY-ALLISON LANCASTER – Managing editor
Escambia County Commissioners are waiting until their next meeting to cast a vote regarding an application from a family who wants to establish a cemetery on their personal property.
According to County Administrator Tony Sanks, Joe and Judy Champion have applied for a permit to establish a family cemetery on their property located southwest of the intersection of Oil Well Road and Wolf Log Road, also known as County Road 35.  
According to Commissioner Larry White, several steps have already been taken regarding the family cemetery's approval process. The Health Department has already been out to the property and approved the lot, a survey has been conducted and boundaries have been set. The Champions did not attend Monday's meeting.
Commissioners felt that the item needed to be discussed and thought out carefully before it comes to a vote at the next set meeting.
Sanks advises anyone with concerns or objections to contact the County Commission office at 867-0208.
In other county news, commissioners passed a resolution supporting an effort to name Feb. 4 as &#8220Rosa Parks Day” in Alabama. Commissioner Wiley Tait, who brought the resolution to the table, said that the date was chosen because it was Parks' birthday. Tait said that he has already been in contact with members of the local legislative delegation who told him it would not be a problem to set the commemorative date.
Commissioner Todd Williamson announced that equipment has been placed at the construction site near Parker Bridge on Hwy. 4. A new bridge will be built on the east side of Parker Bridge. Williamson said it was decided to be built on the east side because there is a larger right-of-way. A name for the new bridge has not been established yet.
Beginning in March the county will be sending nine trucks to be auctioned off by J.M. Wood Auction. The agreement entails a three year contract in which the auction company reduced its commissionable rate to 6 percent, which is a 1 percent decrease.
In return, commissioners approved a lease agreement with First Continental Leasing. The lease will allow the county to purchase nine Mac trucks. The interest rate was offered at 3.25 percent, with a four year lease in which there will be no prepaid penalty if the county decides to sell a truck before the lease has expired.
Currently, the Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy for the county is more than 10 years old. Sanks said he has been in contact with an attorney in Birmingham who specializes in revising such policies.
Details were not discussed in Monday's meeting, but Sanks said that the new policy would clarify some gray areas stated in the current policy. The item was approved, pending county attorney Thad Moore's approval.